How do novels like The Namesake allow us to learn to walk in someone else’s shoes? Scholars will discuss scenes from the novel that give us insight into some of the intangibles in the relationships between characters as a way of understanding our relationship with this novel and the value of reading more generally.

This panel is part of the NEA Big Read community reading program.

About the NEA Big Read in Champaign-Urbana, January 27–March 10

Other Big Read events across Champaign-Urbana and campus include book discussions, films, concerts, hands-on activities, and a fashion show. The complete schedule of events is online at go.illinois.edu/TheNamesake. Share and follow social media posts about Big Read events with the hashtag #BigReadCU. NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. Some Big Read events are partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

The Big Read in Champaign-Urbana is a partnership of the Spurlock Museum, International & Area Studies Library, Urbana Free Library, Champaign Public Library, Asian American Cultural Center, Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, Asian Educational Media Service, Indian Cultural Society of Urbana-Champaign, Art Theater, and Krannert Art Museum and Kinkead Pavilion.